The lockdown hasn't been good to me?
dave_in_ni
Posts: 533 Member
Lost 60lbs 4 years ago, kept it off until now. I knew I was gaining in lockdown but didn't want to admit it. I stepped on the scales this morning, up 10lbs in 2 weeks. I need to nip that in the bud before it gets out of hand. Okay I am not working, however, as those in the UK will know we are allowed out to exercise and I have been out every day walking or running. Yesterday was a 5-mile walk for example. Its the amount of junk food I have been eating and not tracking that's the issue, not much else to do when around the house.
I do need to lose the weight but I know my mindset isn't in the right place to do it at the moment. I guess junk food brings comfort at the moment with the way things are. Then we have Easter coming up and the house is full of Easter Eggs.
Anyone else going through this at the moment? Or how do you get yourself in the right mindset again?
I do need to lose the weight but I know my mindset isn't in the right place to do it at the moment. I guess junk food brings comfort at the moment with the way things are. Then we have Easter coming up and the house is full of Easter Eggs.
Anyone else going through this at the moment? Or how do you get yourself in the right mindset again?
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Replies
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Yes! I’ve been within a 2 lb range of my maintenance weight for about 4 months.
Went on lock down 4 weeks ago. Gained 5 lbs above my higher maintenance number. I had almost given up on maintaining my maintenance weight till after things got back to normal. Then last week something clicked. I’m not going backwards for nothing!! It’s too much work to get back there! I’ve been looking at more exercise and adding yoga for stress relief. Reading more( no food commercials) I feel I’m back in control. Screw Easter candy, you’ve got this!!14 -
frankiesgirlie wrote: »Yes! I’ve been within a 2 lb range of my maintenance weight for about 4 months.
Went on lock down 4 weeks ago. Gained 5 lbs above my higher maintenance number. I had almost given up on maintaining my maintenance weight till after things got back to normal. Then last week something clicked. I’m not going backwards for nothing!! It’s too much work to get back there! I’ve been looking at more exercise and adding yoga for stress relief. Reading more( no food commercials) I feel I’m back in control. Screw Easter candy, you’ve got this!!
Yes thats exactly how I thought, no point maintaining until things get back to normal. I think with stepping on those scales I had been avoiding really woke me up9 -
You've got this, sounds like you had your wake-up call. I went the other direction, controlled what I could and channeled my stress into workouts and totally overdid it! I currently have ice packs on my calves and no cardio/lower leg weights until they recover. I'm used to doing a variety of cardio and lately it's been a lot of walking/dancing/wanna-be HIIT videos on You Tube. I figure one of the few things I can control right now is what I put in my mouth and how I respond to this. I'm not able to get all my staples food-wise so I'm trying to be creative with recipes for what I do have. I also don't live with anyone so it makes it easier to keep food I can't moderate out of the house. I'm listening to a lot of music to stay upbeat, reading, watching a little TV, and trying not to go stir-crazy being alone. I was recently talking to my dad about how it feels like life is paused but we're still aging and time is still passing despite it. I'd rather be closer to goals even if they're harder to strive for right now than go back to old ways.10
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I just read an article on this topic in the news here. A dietician saying that in times of stress we instinctively crave high fat and high sugar/carb foods, so that we are more likely to indulge during this crisis. She emphasized that while it's normal behavior, it's very easy to revert to old bad habits or create new bad habits, which might be difficult to get rid of once the crisis is over. Even just small habits like a few potato chips or a glass of wine every day can lead to weight gain long term, so we should be mindful and try to keep/create healthy habits during this period.16
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I just read an article on this topic in the news here. A dietician saying that in times of stress we instinctively crave high fat and high sugar/carb foods, so that we are more likely to indulge during this crisis. She emphasized that while it's normal behavior, it's very easy to revert to old bad habits or create new bad habits, which might be difficult to get rid of once the crisis is over. Even just small habits like a few potato chips or a glass of wine every day can lead to weight gain long term, so we should be mindful and try to keep/create healthy habits during this period.
Man that makes a lot of sense! I too last weekend had the urge to eat EVERYTHING. After 3 days I was like, nope I'm not going backwards! So for 5 days I've stuck to my calorie goals. I've felt so much better sticking to goal and plan. It gives me control over something I can't control11 -
Its certainly easy to slip into old habits. I discovered even after 4 years my old habits never left and were lingering for an opportunity like this to reappear and they surely did. I have a bad food addiction, I can't moderate anything, I can't have 1 piece of chocolate, no one piece of chocolate opens the flood gates and I eat until I feel sick, and boy can I eat when I put my mind to it. It was this reason I gave up alcohol also, can't have 1 beer, nope no point even drinking if only having 1 beer.19
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it might be easier to concentrate on maintaining first... then worry about creating a deficit instead of going straight from a surplus to a deficit.
that said:
a) no you can't wait for normal, especially if you're gaining
b) unless the Easter eggs are truly special for you in terms of meaning/tradition/what have you... *kitten* the easter eggs for now. You can always buy some from the discount bin once you've got things back under control--assuming you even care about them by then.11 -
I'm feeling this too, I'm exercising when I can but I'm barely getting 3000 steps in while working at home and the cravings have won recently. I darent get on the scales!
I started off thinking ok its a couple of weeks I'll go for maintenance and treat it like a holiday - i.e eating loads and not logging.
Shopping is difficult too, the choice and opportunity isn't there at the moment so it's harder to buy fresh and easier to get takeaways or convenience food.
I have 12 days off work now so I'm going to use the time to adjust to this temporary norm.
I've got some jobs to do around the house and garden to keep myself busy.
I've got time to cook properly so I need to get organised with the shopping, or just be creative with what i can get.
I'm also getting back to basics, drink plenty of water, go to bed at a sensible time and pre plan/log my meals.
Your 10lbs won't all be fat, eating more food and particularly more junk food will result in some water weight so don't despair.
Think back to how you lost those 60lbs and how good it felt, try putting some of your strategies back into your daily routine. Can you try a new hobby to keep you from boredom eating? Or are you able to volunteer? Our town is constantly asking for people to help deliver foods and medicines to the elderly and vulnerable.3 -
The Quarantine Fifteen is real....I think a lot of people are struggling.6
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A friend of mine referred to it as the covid nineteen.16
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it might be easier to concentrate on maintaining first... then worry about creating a deficit instead of going straight from a surplus to a deficit.
that said:
a) no you can't wait for normal, especially if you're gaining
b) unless the Easter eggs are truly special for you in terms of meaning/tradition/what have you... *kitten* the easter eggs for now. You can always buy some from the discount bin once you've got things back under control--assuming you even care about them by then.
This is my plan. I've got 25-30 pounds to lose, but for now I'm just trying to hold steady. We went into lockdown March 31st here (not as long as many people, I know). March 31st I was 202.8, and this morning I'm 202.8. I'm taking that as a victory! My mental state has gone up and down and up during it all. I do the most I can when I'm up, and do the minimum that I can when I'm down. I literally have had to force myself to go outside for a 10 minute walk, but I definitely felt an improvement after I did!11 -
I feel your pain and sometimes you just have to get pissed off at yourself and snap back into the routine. I did exactly that yesterday. Feeling gloomy, down on myself, going back to excuse making, and then got pissed, got up, went downstairs and did 54 min on my spin bike. Relieved my stress completely and turned my day around.. Don't screw up and let all that work be for nothing!10
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Same for me, and even worst, as immediately before the lockdown I just come through a very stressful time at work, that already made my weight grow a bit. And before all that, I was only 4 lb away from my maintenance target! Too bad! I'm not sure to be able to come back to my "old" calories target during the lockdown, but I've to manage a kind of strategy to limit the damage...4
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I don't have much more weight to lose so at the moment I am focusing on maintenance. However I am really concentrating on exercise - doing something vigorous really helps me mentally as well as physically.
It's hard to avoid junk food when stressed, but maybe focus on the fact that you want to be in the best shape you can in case you are unlucky enough to get the virus. Weight is a risk factor, according to what I have read, so might that motivate you to log more assiduously?
Anyway, good luck and stay well.1 -
I cut my calories about 20% in an effort to hold steady. I’ve just made it a point to not change my eating habits, to walk and run outdoors a lot (I have the luxury of an underutilized but great bike trail a four minute walk away).
But mainly I’ve stayed busy inside. I do a couple of live online mat classes every day, created a lengthy to-do list of everything I could ever imagine wanting to do (all completed now), and have painted two of the three floors in the house. I stay on my feet cooking and washing up three meals a day (I usually only cook one), and when I do sit, am doing a lot of crafting.
I am doing my utmost best to keep my hands busy and out of my mouth.
When I do sit and surf the internet, I try to have a cat in my lap demanding to be petted (hands busy, remember?!) or have a nice low cal chai latte at hand. Hot drinks keep me from craving and chai is comforting and satisfying.
Have enjoyed the extra time with my husband, too, especially the painting. We’ve been laughing and giggling.
I guess I’m tragically boring, but I’m having the time of my life. It’s been like playing a challenge with myself. It’ll be four weeks tomorrow for me.
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Maintenance via my default when I’m stressed or something changes in my routine. If I can maintain my weight during this period I reckon I’m on to a winner.7
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It's always about habits and routines for me. When some results in a dramatic shift in those routines, they fall apart. Early on in this mess, I lost my eating habits and exercise. So reestablish some routines. Walking 2 miles every day is more important than walking 5 miles every few days. I started with that and the other routines started to fall back into place.8
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I'm up and down. I have days where I workout to a few different videos or lift weights. Next day, I'm craving sugar and very tired. I have still been able to lose a bit or no gain some weeks. It's an energy rollercoaster for me. Hang in there.4
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dave_in_ni wrote: »Lost 60lbs 4 years ago, kept it off until now. I knew I was gaining in lockdown but didn't want to admit it. I stepped on the scales this morning, up 10lbs in 2 weeks. I need to nip that in the bud before it gets out of hand. Okay I am not working, however, as those in the UK will know we are allowed out to exercise and I have been out every day walking or running. Yesterday was a 5-mile walk for example. Its the amount of junk food I have been eating and not tracking that's the issue, not much else to do when around the house.
I do need to lose the weight but I know my mindset isn't in the right place to do it at the moment. I guess junk food brings comfort at the moment with the way things are. Then we have Easter coming up and the house is full of Easter Eggs.
Anyone else going through this at the moment? Or how do you get yourself in the right mindset again?
If your mindset isn't in the right place to do it at the moment, I'd say at least log your food honestly right now. When you mindset catches up to realizing what you need to do, you'll have all the data that you need to do it. That can be very powerful to you.
Everyone is feeling stress right now, cut yourself a bit of slack(not too much!)
(j/k 😁)
...and you'll be fine.
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It’s tough! I’m lucky to be able to work from home but I find I’m not moving nearly as much as I would at the office even with a “desk” job. My friend suggested to dress in running gear when you get up and then at lunch you’re ready to go for a run even if only 20 minutes or a half an hour (we’re runners). It’s actually worked so far. I’m sure it would work with any workout. I think the psychological push of already being dressed for a workout helps. Snacking is another matter altogether sadly but working on it.6
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I'm really struggling. All of my usual coping mechanisms are currently off the table. Although I understand the intent I don't find the 'we're all in it together so suck it up' rhetoric helpful.
I've been successfully training for an ultra for 6 months, that's now cancelled. No unnecessary journeys in the UK so I can't drive anywhere nice to run. We're only supposed to be out for an hour to exercise so can't run anywhere from home because that would take to long, besides which it's difficult to see the point if it's only an hour.
I'm lucky enough to be working from home, I work with young people in training. They are all at home, desperately anxious and taking it out on me. I cannot answer their questions because who knows what will happen? I am trying to keep them in learning, and because most of the company is on furlough my workload has doubled.
I cannot be as active and that's impacting on my sleep.
I'm afraid I have no suggestions to make, eventually I'll find a way through same as we all have to. Just wanted to say that I empathise. Frankly if at the end of all this the worse thing that has happened is that I am up a dress size, I'll be thankful.8 -
You've got this, sounds like you had your wake-up call. I went the other direction, controlled what I could and channeled my stress into workouts and totally overdid it! I currently have ice packs on my calves and no cardio/lower leg weights until they recover. I'm used to doing a variety of cardio and lately it's been a lot of walking/dancing/wanna-be HIIT videos on You Tube. I figure one of the few things I can control right now is what I put in my mouth and how I respond to this. I'm not able to get all my staples food-wise so I'm trying to be creative with recipes for what I do have. I also don't live with anyone so it makes it easier to keep food I can't moderate out of the house. I'm listening to a lot of music to stay upbeat, reading, watching a little TV, and trying not to go stir-crazy being alone. I was recently talking to my dad about how it feels like life is paused but we're still aging and time is still passing despite it. I'd rather be closer to goals even if they're harder to strive for right now than go back to old ways.
I can relate. I started back on MFP about 3/01 and was figuring out how many cals w/o being too hungry, etc., for the first couple weeks. Then schools closed and I'm home with nothing to do for 2 weeks (Spring break and my district preparing to get us ready to go online). So I went from exercising every other day, ~4 mi/day, to hiking 5-6 every day and I am dead sore, nonstop. I have enjoyed the exercise and so do my dogs, but I have to cut back and regroup. I'm taking off today and tomorrow and maybe Tuesday. The good news is that I got back to work a couple of days ago and that helped with my focus in general.
On the downside, my scale just popped up a couple of lbs after several days of overeating. Not wild, but enough to suggest a legitimate weight gain of 1-1.5 lbs. I was getting too hungry again with all the extra exercise. I'm glad to have caught it now and be able to taper back to a more reasonable balance of intake and exercise. It's hard for me b/c that extra activity gave me some much appreciated extra cals, but clearly not enough to balance how hungry it was making me.
Good luck to everyone, however you choose to try to handle things.
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littlegreenparrot1 wrote: »We're only supposed to be out for an hour to exercise so can't run anywhere from home because that would take to long, besides which it's difficult to see the point if it's only an hour.
Hold on there, really Ms. Ultra?
So what if *I* told YOU that my dog is sensitive to pollen so we will stay home and I won't take her out for walks, she can just poop in the cat's litter box!
Because what's the point? Just a one hour walk near the house is all she can do now. I am used to taking her out for all day hikes in the forest by the river and the mountains and the seaside!
So if she can no longer do an all day hike, she and I might as well just stay home!
What would you say?
You would say that I am a *kitten*.
And that I should take my *kitten* dog out for an hour long walk if that's what she and I are able to do because regardless of whether one hour is as good as an all day *kitten* hike it is still an hour long walk!
It is STILL some exercise and it is STILL better than NOTHING.
<please note that my dog is fine and not in any way restricted... but YOU ARE NOT if you can't see that one hour's worth of running is better than NO hours worth of running at all! And a short run, or even walk if you're ever that "desperate", will still help you feel and sleep better--if only by a tiny tiny bit as compared to your ultra training.
Put your running shoes on, open the door, get out there with the best protective equipment you have available to you, and don't come back till you're sweaty and it is 61 minutes later>
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littlegreenparrot1 wrote: »We're only supposed to be out for an hour to exercise so can't run anywhere from home because that would take to long, besides which it's difficult to see the point if it's only an hour.
Hold on there, really Ms. Ultra?
So if *I* told YOU that my dog is sensitive to pollen so we will stay home and I won't take her out for walks, she can just poop in the cat's litter box! Because what's the point? I am used to taking her out for all day hikes but she can no longer do them so she might as well just stay home!
You would say?
You would say that I am a *kitten* and that I should take my *kitten* dog out for an hour long walk if that's what she and I are able to do because regardless of whether one hour is the same as an all day *kitten* hike it is STILL exercise and it is STILL better than NOTHING.
<please note that my dog is fine and not in any way restricted... but YOU ARE NOT if you can't see that one hour's worth of running is better than NO hours of running at all and it will help you feel and sleep better--if only by a little bit.
put your running shoes on, open the door, get out and come back sweaty 61 minutes later>
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I've gained 6 lbs in 4 weeks since being off work. And this is with me never once taking a day off weighing and logging my food. I still do my normal cardio and strength training, plus I'm now going for daily walks.
The gain must have to do with me not getting on a calorie burn from moving around at work and just a general nervousness I have in the workplace. Now it's time to make a plan for lowering my calories, which sucks because I was at such a good intake for my mental health, ya know? It was a high enough cut that I felt strong and not deprived. I had a problem with binging on low calorie diets in the past.2 -
somethingsoright wrote: »I've gained 6 lbs in 4 weeks since being off work. And this is with me never once taking a day off weighing and logging my food. I still do my normal cardio and strength training, plus I'm now going for daily walks.
The gain must have to do with me not getting on a calorie burn from moving around at work and just a general nervousness I have in the workplace. Now it's time to make a plan for lowering my calories, which sucks because I was at such a good intake for my mental health, ya know? It was a high enough cut that I felt strong and not deprived. I had a problem with binging on low calorie diets in the past.
6lbs in 4 weeks is 750 Cal a day, which is a significant overage--what you mention would have a hard time explaining it by itself.
I mean 750 Cal is the difference between sedentary and very active in *my case* (M, 172.25cm, 153lbs) That's like more than 10,000 steps in my case.... and it would be an even larger difference for you if your BMR is less than 1500 (BMR not TDEE)
So: are you sore at all? Have you been eating back calories from the walks which you weren't doing before? TOM complications? Are the 6lbs a scale weight change or a weight trend change?3 -
somethingsoright wrote: »I've gained 6 lbs in 4 weeks since being off work. And this is with me never once taking a day off weighing and logging my food. I still do my normal cardio and strength training, plus I'm now going for daily walks.
The gain must have to do with me not getting on a calorie burn from moving around at work and just a general nervousness I have in the workplace. Now it's time to make a plan for lowering my calories, which sucks because I was at such a good intake for my mental health, ya know? It was a high enough cut that I felt strong and not deprived. I had a problem with binging on low calorie diets in the past.
6lbs in 4 weeks is 750 Cal a day, which is a significant overage--what you mention would have a hard time explaining it by itself.
I mean 750 Cal is the difference between sedentary and very active in *my case* (M, 172.25cm, 153lbs) That's like more than 10,000 steps in my case.... and it would be an even larger difference for you if your BMR is less than 1500 (BMR not TDEE)
So: are you sore at all? Have you been eating back calories from the walks which you weren't doing before? TOM complications? Are the 6lbs a scale weight change or a weight trend change?
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littlegreenparrot1 wrote: »We're only supposed to be out for an hour to exercise so can't run anywhere from home because that would take to long, besides which it's difficult to see the point if it's only an hour.
Hold on there, really Ms. Ultra?
So what if *I* told YOU that my dog is sensitive to pollen so we will stay home and I won't take her out for walks, she can just poop in the cat's litter box!
Because what's the point? Just a one hour walk near the house is all she can do now. I am used to taking her out for all day hikes in the forest by the river and the mountains and the seaside!
So if she can no longer do an all day hike, she and I might as well just stay home!
What would you say?
You would say that I am a *kitten*.
And that I should take my *kitten* dog out for an hour long walk if that's what she and I are able to do because regardless of whether one hour is as good as an all day *kitten* hike it is still an hour long walk!
It is STILL some exercise and it is STILL better than NOTHING.
<please note that my dog is fine and not in any way restricted... but YOU ARE NOT if you can't see that one hour's worth of running is better than NO hours worth of running at all! And a short run, or even walk if you're ever that "desperate", will still help you feel and sleep better--if only by a tiny tiny bit as compared to your ultra training.
Put your running shoes on, open the door, get out there with the best protective equipment you have available to you, and don't come back till you're sweaty and it is 61 minutes later>
I have already said that I am struggling, along with many of the reasons why.
I am not saying it is a rational or helpful response to the situation, simply telling me to get on with it is not going to help me.
I did also say that I would eventually find a way through.
I have spent most of the last 20 years trying to find ways to effectively manage my mental health, it will take longer than 3 weeks to find new ways.
I am perfectly able to both know I am not doing myself any favours and not be able to do anything about it.
You do you, and please allow others to express their feelings.
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littlegreenparrot1 wrote: »We're only supposed to be out for an hour to exercise so can't run anywhere from home because that would take to long, besides which it's difficult to see the point if it's only an hour.
Hold on there, really Ms. Ultra?
So what if *I* told YOU that my dog is sensitive to pollen so we will stay home and I won't take her out for walks, she can just poop in the cat's litter box!
Because what's the point? Just a one hour walk near the house is all she can do now. I am used to taking her out for all day hikes in the forest by the river and the mountains and the seaside!
So if she can no longer do an all day hike, she and I might as well just stay home!
What would you say?
You would say that I am a *kitten*.
And that I should take my *kitten* dog out for an hour long walk if that's what she and I are able to do because regardless of whether one hour is as good as an all day *kitten* hike it is still an hour long walk!
It is STILL some exercise and it is STILL better than NOTHING.
<please note that my dog is fine and not in any way restricted... but YOU ARE NOT if you can't see that one hour's worth of running is better than NO hours worth of running at all! And a short run, or even walk if you're ever that "desperate", will still help you feel and sleep better--if only by a tiny tiny bit as compared to your ultra training.
Put your running shoes on, open the door, get out there with the best protective equipment you have available to you, and don't come back till you're sweaty and it is 61 minutes later>
@littlegreenparrot1 apparently loves to run and it is a stress reducer for her, just like overeating is a stress reducer for others.
Would you expect someone to have a good reaction if you told them to eat one Oreo when they really wanted 10 and to be happy with it?
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